Life-preserver.



No. 855,180. I PATENTED MAY 28, 1907.

K. J; JOHANSSON.

LIFE PRESERVER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21. 1906.

l Aar/ REM/7x022 INVENTOR A TTOR/VEY KARL J. JOHANSSON, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

L lFE-PRESERVER..

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 28, 1907.

Application filed May 21, 1906. Serial-No. 318.049.

To all whmn it may concernl:

Be it known that I, KARL J. JOHANSSON, having declared my intention to become a I citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Seattle, county of King, State of l/Vashington, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Life-Prese'rvers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawin s The lnvention consists in a peculiar construction of a life preserver, comprising a number of closed air-tight metallic vessels attached together with canvas cloth in a belt form, so that the life preserver is adapted to encircle the body, and provided with shoulder straps and with means for attaching the belt on the body. v

The construction is designed to make a life preserver that can be placed on the body of any individual person that can be buckled on and around the body, and held in its posi tion by means of shoulder straps d, and a strap 0 encircling the body, and a strap 6 fastened over the breast of the person.

This life preserver never absorbs any water, except the small quantity absorbed by the canvas, nor becomes heavier after being thrown in the water and will therefore carry more dead weight than belts made out of material that absorbs water.

I obtain this result by making metallic vessels Figure 3 of copper or other metals prepared so that they willnot rust; these metallic vessels are made in sizes twelve inches long by five inches wide by two inches deep, made airtight with rounded corners to prevent them from wearing the canvas; each of these metallic vessels will carry four pounds dead weight when in the water, I then attach these metallic vessels together'with canvas, sewing each vessel into canvas so that the metallic vessels will not rub together. I generally use eight of these metallic vessels for each belt, which will carry thirty-two pounds dead weight; I can either add to or take from the number; I sew a heavy cloth strap a from end to end on the outside of the belt thus constructed of these metallic vessels, I let the ends of this strap extend sufficiently over each end of the belt so that I can buckle the belt around the body by means of this strap; I fasten shoulder straps (Z on the upper edge of the-belt by means of which a strap is placed over each shoulder, and I fasten the shoulder straps together a short distance above the upper edge of the belt on the back by crossing these straps and attaching them together, and a small strap 6 a short distance from the upper edge of the belt in the front, by means of which the front parts of the shoulder straps can be connected.

By thus arranging the belt I produce a life preserver that will never sink or become wet or heavy in the water, no matter how long it remains in the water, and has more carrying powerthan any other life preserver heretofore made.

In the drawings, Flg. 1 1s a perspectlve v1ew of my lmproved life preserver,

seen from its back, showing it standing ar-- rangedm clrcle form, the front being open and showing the shoulder strap and the strap used to fasten the life preserver around the body. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my improved life preserver laid on its side doubled up for storing, exposing the strap used to fasten the preserver around the body. Fig. 3 is the top projection of the metallic vessel. Fig. 4 is the front projection of the metallic vessel. jection of the metallic vessels.

. a is one of the metallic vessels covered with canvas and fastened together in shape of a belt.

I) is the seam where the canvas is sewed together between each of the metallic vessels a to hold the metallic vessels together and preventing them from rubbing together.

0 is the strap fastened to the outside of the canvas or belt, and is used for buckling the life preserver around the body.

(1 are the shoulder straps.

c is .a strap used to connect the front parts of the shoulder straps over the breast when the life preserver is in use.

f is the seam where the whole length.

of the canvas covering the metallic vessels is sewed together.

The parts thus constructed, their operation is as follows: Lift the life preserver Fig. .1 sufficient height to place the shoulder straps at over the shoulder, button or buckle the strap 6 to connect the front part of the shoulder straps (Z, buckle the life preserver to the body, by means of the strap 0, under the arms of the person.

What I claim as my invention is 1. A life preserver comprising a belt made of canvas and having pockets formed therein, a belt strap secured to and encir- And Fig. 5 is the end pro- I cling the belt provided with a buckle, metallic floats arranged in the pockets, said floats being rectangular 1n form with rounded corner edges and made of non-corrosive material, there being seams provided between the pockets to prevent friction between the floats, shoulder straps secured to the upper edge of the belt near the central portion and at the ends thereof, the straps crossing in the back and secured together at the point of crossing, a breast strap secured to one of the shoulder straps near the front end thereof and having detachable connection with the other shoulder strap.

2. A life preserver comprising a canvas belt formed with pockets therein, the longi tudinal edges of the fabric being stitched along theupper edge, a strap secured to and encircling the belt provided with a buckle, copper floats arranged in the pockets said floats being rectangular in form having round corner edges, the belt formed with flat portions and seams between the pockets to prevent friction between the floats, crossed shoulder straps secured to the upper edge near the middle of the belt and secured together at their point of crossing, the front ends of the straps secured near the ends of the belt, a breast strap secured to one of the shoulder straps near its front end, and a detachable fastening for securing the 0pposite end of the breast strap to the other shoulder strap.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in presence of the subscribing witnesses.

KARL J JOHANSSON. Vitnesses:

LENA VrsTA, RUssELL R. FARRELL. 

